Mental Health Aspects of Hepatitis B Infection: Anxiety, Depression, and Beyond
摘要
Even though hepatitis B infection is avoidable with a vaccine, it remains a hazard to public health and is one of the illnesses that causes the most morbidity and mortality from chronic liver diseases. The care process is complicated by the need for long-term patient follow-up and therapy, the patient’s irregular or non-use of medication, the virus that develops drug resistance, possible drug side effects, and mental and financial issues. Due to a variety of causes, including stigma, prejudice, fear of dying, and concern about spreading the illness to others, patients suffer from anxiety and depressive disorders more frequently than healthy people. Clinicians should manage the process by establishing a strong communication with the patient, without ignoring the fact that patients’ mental health and quality of life are improved in addition to clinical/laboratory well-being.